Current Affairs Quiz-September, 2020

Notes:
A new study published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has found that Vitamin D supplements can decrease the rate of ICU admissions due to Covid-19.
The vitamin is found to be stimulating immune responses against various diseases including the novel coronavirus. The study was conducted on 76 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 in Spain. The patients who received the supplement were discharged without complications.

Notes:
The United Kingdom (UK) has entered into an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan.
This partnership is seen as a historic move, since this is the first trade agreement signed by the UK post Brexit. The agreement is said to foster trade between the two countries by about 15 billion Euros.

Notes:
The Baghjan Oil Well of Oil India Limited (OIL) is located in Eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district has been put off.
A massive fire occurred in the Oil well due to equipment failure and it turned out into a blowout, which means uncontrolled escape of gas at great speed. Oil India Limited (OIL) and foreign experts managed to tame the fire after 110 days.

Notes:
Amazon India has recently confirmed that the Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan will become the first Indian celebrity whose voice will feature on the Alexa voice assistant.
The company is to add the voice of the actor as a paid upgrade and that will be added through the Alexa Skills interface. His voice would be used in notifications about weather, jokes and advices, as a part of attracting customers.

Notes:
Yoshihide Suga has been elected as the new head of Japan’s ruling party. It is almost certain that he would be the next Prime Minister of Japan.
Last month, the incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation for reasons of ill health. Yoshihide Suga is said to be a close ally of Mr Abe and likely to continue his predecessor’s policies.

Notes:
The new Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, introduced by the government empowers RBI to restructure Cooperative banks.
The bill was tabled on the first day of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The bill which came in the form of ordinance was earlier withdrawn. Under this amendment, the Reserve Bank of India can restructure distressed cooperative banks.

Notes:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sameer Kumar Khare as new Executive Director of Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The veteran bureaucrat has been appointed to the post for a tenure of three years. Sameer Kumar is a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. He is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs under Ministry of Finance.

Notes:
The Horticulture Department of the Jammu and Kashmir has launched the Flagship programme ‘Backyard Horticulture’ under CAPEX scheme.
The programme aims to promote organic fruit production for home consumption. Under the programme, three fruit plants will be distributed among the farmers at 90% subsidy. It increases self-sustenance and also preserves environment.

Notes:
The Rajya Sabha has recently passed the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill 2020, which was tabled by Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri
The bill has already been cleared by the Lok Sabha in March this year. It seeks to convert aviation agencies like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil aviation security (BCAS) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into statutory bodies. It also proposes heavy punishment for violations.

Notes:
Britain’s Andy Murray who is former world number has been given a wildcard entry into the main draw of French Open.
This year’s French Open first round begins on 27th September. Murray is a three-time Grand Slam winner and a French Open finalist. He has not appeared at the event since 2017, when he lost to Stan Wawrinka.